EU Nations May Recognize Guaido as Venezuela Leader Amid Split

Spain, U.K., Germany are pushing to back Guaido over Maduro
Italy only country to object to wording of statement: person

Juan Guaido, president of the National Assembly, sings the national anthem during a pro-opposition rally in Caracas.
Photographer: Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg

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By Viktoria Dendrinou and Nikos Chrysoloras

February 2, 2019 at 4:40 PM UTC

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Spain, the U.K. and Germany are among nations pushing the European Union to recognize Juan Guaido “as president ad interim of Venezuela,” according to a draft communique obtained by Bloomberg, in the latest move by the west to isolate President Nicolas Maduro.

Foreign ministers from the EU’s 28 countries discussed the statement at an informal meeting in Bucharest on Thursday and Friday, and only Italy objected to the wording, according to a diplomat familiar with the matter. If efforts to reach consensus on the wording fail, then the governments that agree may separately issue the statement as soon as Sunday, according to the diplomat, who declined to be identified talking about private discussions.